A Fermanagh group calls for rescue of emergency general surgery as Causeway Hospital risk losing theirs
A Fermanagh campaign group hopes that the row which lead to the resignation of Health Minister Mike Nesbitt might see movement on their aim to restore services to the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen.
Emergency general surgery was suspended at the South West Acute Hospital (Swah) in Enniskillen in 2022.
Some patients from Fermanagh and Tyrone now have to travel an hour-and-a-half to Londonderry for the service.
The Western Health Trust said this was necessary to protect the public's safety after it had problems recruiting surgical staff. The emergency department and other services including obstetrics continue to operate as normal.
Causeway Hospital in Coleraine is facing a similar plight with regards to emergency general surgery, with the Northern Health Trust saying it is unsustainable for similar reasons.
Now, after the resignation of Health Minister Mike Nesbitt in a row with his party leader Jon Burrows over general emergecy surgery Causeway, campaigners for the return of the services to Enniskillen hope the next health minister will deliver "health equality" for Fermanagh and Coleraine.
With the spotlight on the situation in Coleraine, the Fermanagh group Save Our Acute Services (SOAS), called on the incoming health minister to deliver "basic equality of access to emergency surgery" for them also.
SOAS spokesperson Donal O’Cofaigh said: “The minister’s resignation opens up the possibility of a new approach recognising the vital importance of rural and health equality.
“The incoming health minister must act urgently to restore our access to life saving surgery in a medical emergency.
"Our campaign will work with whoever is appointed to achieve this through advancing our Roadmap proposals and the commissioning of a sustainable and restored emergency surgery service at SWAH.”
Meanwhile, it appears that the last UUP election manifesto, for the 2024 Westminster election potentially backs the proposed centralisation of general emergency surgery in both Enniskillen and Causeway.
The manifesto promised the party would "continue to transform" health services to meet the needs of the population. This would be assisted by the publication of a “reconfiguration blueprint" and "the ongoing implementation of the elective care framework" which would see reforms such as those proposed in Coleraine and Enniskillen. Mike Nesbitt and Jon Burrows were invited to comment.